B-PAC endorsed candidates draw mixed response

An unique experiment in politics and one which was aimed to build a better Bangalore and enhance the quality of life has met with decent success in the Karnataka elections. B.PAC (Bangalore Political Action Committee) with representation from diverse walks of life including eminent personalities from the fields of politics, business, sports, the arts and entertainment such as Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and Mohandas Pai, had supported 14 candidates across party lines contesting from various constituencies in Bangalore.

Of the 14 candidates, 9 of them lost the elections, while the remaining five has won.

The candidates were selected on the basis of their work done to develop their respective constituencies and were also supported with a grant of Rs 5 lakh each for the elections. "This is a clear anti-incumbency verdict against corruption and political instability. The mandate calls for a clean and stable government. We are happy to see a clear mandate in favor of Congress, which will enable B.PAC to catalyse a positive change in the political system. Five B.PAC endorsed candidates have won in their constituencies, we congratulate them and look forward to working with them to ensure they deliver on the BPAC Agenda for Bangalore," Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, President, B.PAC, said.

Industry welcomes victory
Various industry associations in the state on Wednesday welcomed the victory of Congress in the Karnataka Assembly elections. The associations also said the new government should work to enable the growth of the state and reverse the trend which has made Karnataka a back seater.

"We welcome the Assembly Election results of Karnataka and also believe that the new government will encourage more progressive polices to speed up the economic growth of the State", said said Soumitra Bhattacharya, Chairman, CII Karnataka.

Another industry body Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) said the verdict will infuse a new phase of growth and development in the State M Lakshminarayan, President, BCIC said: "A party coming to power with decisive mandate augurs well for a strong and effective decision-making in the future. Considering the huge potential that the State offers, BCIC would be keen to partner with the new Government in ensuring that the State is once again put back on the high growth trajectory."

Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (India) FKCCI welcomed the congress party for its simple majority in the Assembly Elections and stated that it is a vote against deficit governance, corruption, carelessness and self enrichment.

K Shiva Shanmugam President of FKCCI said: "For some time past we have suffered the fractured verdict and all the deficiencies of the coalition government's. Now, since the Congress Party has bagged the majority, they can go ahead with the required reforms, which has been pending for a long time, execute the infrastructure projects which have suffered due to deficit governance and concentrate on tactical measures to improve the growth of Karnataka which has fallen to 6 per cent from 8 per cent and industrial growth which has fallen from 2nd to 13th position."

Fkcci also said it supports the new government in all its attempts to kick start the growth engine and reverse the trend which has made Karnataka a back seater. It is high time for the Government to strip itself from all the fancy stories they used so far and come to terms with life and growth and serve the common man adhering to the manifesto.